PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Will Pray (Prague, Czech Republic) scored twice, including the game-winner 1:39 into overtime, to lead Plymouth State University to a 3-2 win over Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday night.
The Falcons carried a 1-0 lead into the second period, but Pray knocked in a rebound and senior
Dante Moretti (Columbus, Ohio) gave PSU the lead less than two minutes later. Fitchburg State would square things at 2-2 with just 2:22 left in regulation, but a Falcons' penalty just before the clock expired gave Plymouth State a power play to open the extra frame.
PSU took advantage, as sophomore
David Matousek (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic) slipped a backhanded pass through the goalie to Pray on the far side for the game winner.
Plymouth State improves to 10-4-0 (7-0-0 MASCAC), while the Falcons slip to 7-5-0 (4-2-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Fitchburg State 2 (OT)
- Plymouth State (10-4-0, 7-0-0 MASCAC)
- Fitchburg State (7-5-0, 4-2-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State controlled play for much of the opening frame, but the Panthers were unable to get on the board.
- The visitors broke through midway through the period to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
- A neutral zone turnover gave PSU a golden chance two minutes into the second. Sophomore Andrew Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) picked up the loose puck and skated in alone for a shorthanded chance, but his bid was bodied down and a wraparound attempt on the rebound was knocked free by a Falcons' defenseman.
- PSU capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play to make it 1-1. Junior Payton Schaly (Orillia, Ontario) fired a blast from the right side and Pray was there to bang home the rebound at the 8:41 mark.
- The Panthers jumped into the lead less than two minutes later. Sophomore Koby Howat (Honey Brook, Pa.) carried the puck into the zone before whipping a pass to senior Dante Moretti (Columbus, Ohio), who beat the goalie to the stick side with a quick wrist shot for a 2-1 advantage.
- Junior Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) made several big saves as the Panthers killed off three straight penalties to carry the lead into the third period.
- The Falcons tied the game with just 2:22 left to play.
- Plymouth State nearly closed out the win in regulation, but senior Cam Patton (Bible Hill, Nova Scotia) rang the crossbar and the game went into overtime.
- A penalty just before the end of regulation allowed PSU to open the overtime with a power play and Pray converted Matousek's feed 1:39 into the session to secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- Pray's two goals tied a career high.
- Pray and Moretti both have four goals on the season.
- Junior Lucas Jones (Calgary, Alberta) had a pair of assists.
- Shantz finished with 27 saves.
- Patton went 17-7 in the faceoff circle, while junior Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) won all 12 of his draws.
- PSU outshot the Falcons by a 43-29 margin.
- The Panthers went 2-of-4 on the power play, while holding Fitchburg State scoreless in six chances.
- Plymouth State is 8-0-1 against the Falcons in the last nine meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to Worcester State on Thursday (Jan. 16) for a 7:30 p.m. MASCAC clash with the Lancers.
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